Friction stir welding improves CT fatigue life

摘要

While CT has advanced beyond its origins, a new process for joining strip sections promises to improve fatigue life even further. Corrosion-related coiled tubing (CT) failures are cosdy and sig-nificandy impact the safety and reliability of CT operations. CT strings retired at an early stage due to corrosion problems represent an inefficient use of operational assets. In addition to severe above-ground bending and straightening cycles and bending associated with wellpath curvature, corrosion is also a predominant cause of tubing failure in conventional CT.